Abdominal support



J. J. RYDER ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Feb. 28, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1964 INVENTOR James J. Ryder ATTORNEY ABDOMINAL SUIPORT INVENTOR James J. Ryder 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1964 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,306,285 ABDOMINAL SUPPORT James J. Ryder, Nickson Hotel, Roswell, N. Mex. 88201 Filed Dec. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 421,196 12 Claims. (Cl. 128-96) The present invention relates to abdominal supports and to components for use in abdominal supports.

An object of the present invention is to provide a foundation structure adapted to be used in an abdominal support, the foundation structure including spring projections which, with the structure serving as a component of an abdominal support, are highly effective for firmly applying pressure to a lower abdominal region of the body of a wearer and are free to flex individually in response to bodily movement of the wearer thus permitting freedom of movement and promoting comfort of the wearer.

A further object is to provide a foundation structure of the character indicated wherein the spring projections are securely on a common rigid base member to permit the spring projections to flex and thus adjust in position in accordance with forces encountered by the individual projection.

A further object is to provide a foundation structure of the character indicated wherein the spring projections have lateral presser faces and are inherently longitudinally bowed in the absence of external force being applied to the spring projections, the spring projections being securely on a rigid base and yet formed in transverse cross section to longitudinally flex individually as forces applied transversely of the projections to the lateral presser faces are varied.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an abdominal support of the character indicated wherein at least one of the spring projections carries a hernia pad for the support to apply localized pressure to the body in a region of rupture.

A still further object is the provision of a support of the character indicated which has separable components to facilitate cleaning or replacement of one or more of the components.

Other objects of this invention in part will be obvious and in part pointed out more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing representing an illustrative embodiment of the present invention:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a foundation structure for use in an abdominal support, and introduces hernia pads and padding forming an outer protective edge and rear facing of the foundation structure;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of a pouch and body straps for attaching the foundation structure of FIGURE 1 to the body of the wearer;

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the pouch of FIGURE 2 illustrating the foundation structure of FIGURE 1 positioned therein; and

FIGURE 4 is a front view corresponding to FIG- URE 1.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of this invention, it may be noted at this point that it is often desirable for persons, especially those engaging in physical activity, to wear a support which lies externally of the body in the region of the lower abdomen. The support is used to apply pressure to the outer surface of the body in this region to prevent rupture which otherwise might occur in the absence of a support. At times these supports have one or more hernia pads attached thereto in a local area to be positioned between the rear surface of the support and the body of the wearer. The hernia pads provide addition-a1 localized support in the area of a rupture for a person who may already be suffering from rupture.

While flexible supports have been made substantially entirely of cloth such as of an elastic grade, in the region where abdominal support is to be accomplished, the surface of this pliable material rather easily bulges outwardly under the influence of a localized portion of the body requiring support, and the rupture-preventnig effectiveness in this regard of a pliable material is therefore not as great as a more firm material such as metal or hard plastic. When a support is to carry one or more pads, which for example are of sponge or other soft material, it is likewise helpful to have the support formed of a relatively firm material to provide a solid backing for the pad. It remains, however, that when .a relatively firm material is used, other problems are encountered. In this latter regard, it must be realized that when a person is engaged in bodily movement, different portions of the body in the region of the lower abdomen change position. Thus, the lower central region of the lower abdomen tends to move outwardly such as when a person is bending over toward the front. When, however, the person is twisting to the right -or left, then right or left side portions of the lower abdominal region will tend to flex outwardly. One of the problems with a relatively firm material introduced for supporting a lower abdominal region therefore is to accomplish comfort and freedom of movement while taking advantage of the firmness for effective support to be had.

An outstanding object of the present invention accordingly is the provision of a foundation structure and an abdominal support having the foundation structure for a component wherein spring presser members, such as lobes, are carried on a rigid base member and are properly directed for extending individually yieldably over localized abdominal regions of the body of a wearer to apply pressure to those regions while effectively supporting those regions with maximum comfort to an active wearer.

Referring now more particularly to a practice of the present invention consistent with the embodiment of lower abdominal support represented in FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawing, a foundation structure 10 having presser means in the form of spring sheet presser members, illustratively spring sheet lobes 11, 12, and 13, is received in a pouch 14. The pouch is attached to harness 15 having appurtenant straps and fastenings later to be described, and it will be understood that the harness is used to secure the pouch 14 and its associated foundation structure 10 to the body of a wearer, and maintain the rear surface of the pouch in surface contact with the skin of the wearers body in the lower abdominal region. The rear lateral faces of the lobes 11, 12 and 13 confront the body of the wearer and apply pressure against the body surface to perform a supporting function.

Turning now more specifically to the embodiment of the foundation structure 10 illustrated at FIGURES 1, 3, and 4, there is provided a rigid base member 16 having flexible presser lobes 11, 12, and 13 illustratively of spring quality sheet steel or of spring quality elastomeric material. Inner end portions of the lobes are securely on the rigid base member from which the lobes extend outwardly and have free outer ends.

The base member 16 more particularly comprises a plate including front and rear surfaces 17 and 18 respectively and having a top edge 19, a bottom edge 20 and opposite side edges 21 and 22. A transverse lower region 23 of the base plate 16 coextends with the bottom edge 20. A longitudinally extending central region 24 extends in alignment with the lower region 23 toward top edge 19 of the base plate and is substantially perpendicular to the transverse lower region 23, these regions, as well, representing a generally T-shaped zone of interconnection of the lobes with the base member. The base plate is preferably made of a rigid material such as a rigid metallic material or rigid resin so that it will not easily bend. A plurality of apertures 25 extend through the base plate and are spaced on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis of the plate. Additional apertures 26 extend through the marginal sides adjacent the side edges of the plate. Uses for the aforementioned apertures will be dealt with hereinafter in more detail.

The spring sheet presser lobe 11 longitudinally axially extends outwardly away from an inner end portion 11b, secured to the lower region 23 of the rigid base member 16 as by spot welding, and projects terminally at an outer end 11a. As illustrated clearly at FIGURE 1, the lobe has a rear lateral presser surface 11c and in the absence of external force being applied is advantageously inherently longitudinally forwardly bowed between the inner end portion 11b and the outer end 1111, better to exert thrust upon the region of the body of the wearer which is to be supported by the lobe when the support is assembled and attached to the wearers body. A plurality of spaced apertures 30 extend through the central portion of the lobe, and additional spaced apertures 31 extend through the lobe near the edges of the lobe. Further, it will be noted that the foundation structure provides lobe 11 extending longitudinally outwardly away not only from the rigid base member but from lobes 12 and 13 transversely of the latter two lobes. Lobes 12 and 13 are longitudinally in alignment with each other and extend longitudinally generally in opposite directions outwardly away from the base member 16. As shown in the present embodiment, the spring projections 12 and 13 comprise lobes of a sheet spring plate 32. The lobe members of the sheet spring plate 32 in the absence of external force advantageously are inherently longitudinally forwardly bowed between outer ends 12a and 13a and inner end portions 12b and 13b, the latter portions being secured to the central region 24 of the rigid base member 16 as by spot welding. Rear lateral presser faces 12c and 130 of the lobes 12 and 13 are adapted to confront the body of the wearer and apply pressure against the body surface to perform a supporting function. The bowed form of the latter two lobes enables better thrust action adjacent to the region of the abdomen which is to be supported.

Plate 32 has as its longitudinal axis an imaginary line extending centrally of the plate between outer ends 12a and 13a of lobes 12 and 13 respectively. This longitudinal axis of the plate 32 thus forms a common longitudinal axis for the two lobes 12 and 13, and this axis is at approximately a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the lobe 11. The plate 32 includes an intermediate portion 36 extending along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plate 32 and this central portion forms, in effect, a connecting portion for connecting the two lobes 12 and 13 to each other and for connecting the plate 32 to base member 16. The latter connection illustratively is by welding. While in the embodiment illustrated the lobes 12 and 13 are formed as integral portions of plate 32, it is to be understood that these lobes are at times formed as separate components having a corresponding separate inner portion 1212 or 131) securely on the base member.

Now, directing attention further to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, it will be seen that lobe 11 in extending longitudinally outwardly from the lower edge 20 of the rigid base plate 16, 'has the outer end 11a of the lobe spaced rearwardly of the transversely extending lower region 23 of the base plate. The lobes 12 and 13 in extending longitudinally outwardly from the base plate 16 also have their outer ends 12a and 13a spaced rearwardly of the longitudinally extending central region 24 of the rigid base plate 16. Sets of apertures 37, 38 and 39 extend through the sheet spring plate 32 for a purpose which will hereinafter be clarified. The apertures 25 through the rigid base plate 16 are in alignment with the apertures 37 through the sheet spring plate 32.

A padding -or edging 42, such as of foam rubber, is advantageously secured to the lobe 11 so as to cover the projecting edge of this lobe and the rear lateral surface 110 near this edge and conveniently is applied by sewing with a thread 43 which passes through apertures 26 and 31. A similar edging or padding 42a also for example of foam rubber is advantageously attached as by stitching 43a to cover the top edge and rear lateral surface of the flexible plate 32 near the top edge of the plate.

As illustrated at FIGURES 1 and 3, the lobes 12 and 13 may each have a hernia pad 44 covering the outer end edge and a portion of the rear lateral surface of the lobe. The pads 44 are each attached as by a cord 45 through the apertures 38 in the lobe and over the pad so that the cord holds the pad in place. Each hernia pad comprises a plurality of layers 46 of padding, illustratively foam rubber. In the embodiment shown, each of the layers has a generally arcuate boundary edge and a generally chordal joining boundary edge. The layers become increasingly smaller in diameter from the two outer layers toward the center of the pad and are suitably secured together. Each of the layers has a plurality of small vents 47 and the rear layer which is adapted to be facially toward the wearer additionally has relatively large vents 48. The vents 47 and 48 are to permit air to enter and perspiration to escape from the body of the wearer through the pad.

Harness 15 includes a belt in the form of waist band 49 and a pair of leg bands 50 and 51. The waist and leg bands are preferably formed of elastic covered with a soft stretchable fabric. A buckle 52 is fixed to one end of the waist band, and the other end of the waist band includes a plurality of eyelets 53 which cooperate with the buckle 52 to secure the ends of the band in any of several adjusted positions. One end of the leg bands 50 and 51 is secured respectively in lefthand and righthand positions to the waist band on normally a forward portion of the band and the other end of the leg bands respectively is secured in lefthand and righthand positions to a normally rearward portion of the band. The leg bands and the waist band are correspondingly provided with a plurality of eyelets 54 and buckles 55 so that the leg bands can be adjustably secured to the waist band. The harness 15 further includes a plurality of rearwardly extending male snap fastener elements 56 on the waist band and on the leg bands. The leg bands each have an aperture 57 for accepting a steel pin 58 which is hooked at opposite ends. This pin aids in holding the leg bands in proper position.

The pouch 14 is preferably formed of soft fabric and includes front and rear plies 59 and 60 respectively. The two plies are substantially identical to each other in configuration and are stitched together along their side and bottom edges to form a receptacle which is interiorly accessible from the top. Soft fiannel pieces 60a are stitched between the plies along the side edges, and the pieces 60a extend outwardly of the side edges of the plies 59 and 60. A plurality of apertures are centrally through each of the plies 59 and 60 and the apertures in one ply are in alignment with corresponding apertures through the other ply. The front ply 59 carries a plurality of forwardly opening female snap elements 61 which correspond in number and in spacing to the male snap elements 56 carried by the harness 15. These snap elements 56 and 61 cooperate to secure the pouch 14 to the harness 15. The front ply also carries a pair of rearwardly directed male snap elements 62 along its upper edge. The rear ply 60 has a pair of forwardly opening female snap elements 63 on its upper edge which correspond in spacing to the male snap elements 62. The snap elements 62 and 63 are for closing the top of the pouch 14 are insertion of the foundation structure 10.

As noted hereinbefore it may be desirable to secure a hernia pad 44 to either or both of the lobes 12 and 13 and thus cover the outer end edge and rear lateral surface of the corresponding lobe. The use of hernia pads will be determined by the needs of the particular individual wearing the support. That is, if the wearer has a hernia only on the left side or the right side, then hernia padding need only be used on the afllicted side. In the instance of using padding for single hernia, it is usually helpful to secure edge padding similar to edging 42 to the rear surface along the edge of the opposite lobe. If no hernia pads are used, as when a wearer has no localized rupture, and the support is used for a general support of the lower abdominal region, it is usually desirable to secure padding or edging to the rear lateral surface of the outer ends of lobes 11, 12 and 13.

The foundation structure 10, with or without hernia pads, is positioned between the plies 59 and 60 of the pouch 14 by inserting the foundation structure through the open top of the pouch. A lace 64 is then laced through apertures 65 in the plies of the pouch, through apertures 25 in the rigid base plate and through apertures 37 in the flexible plate 32 to hold the foundation structure 10 in position within the pouch. The pouch 14 is attached to the harness by snapping together the male snap fastener elements 56 and the female snap fastener elements 61. The two plies of the pouch are brought together at the top by use of the snap fastener elements 62 and 63. The assembly is attached to the body of the wearer by use of the waist band 49 which is passed around the trunk of the wearer and buckled, and by the leg bands 50 and 51 which are passed between the thighs of the wearer and buckled. The support is thereby capable of being adjustably secured in proper position with the flexible presser lobes applying pressure to the lower abdominal region. The lateral rear surface of each of the lobes faces the body of the wearer. The rear ply 60 of soft material is between the rear surface of the presser lobes and the skin of the wearer and this affords protection against chafing, as do the flannel portions 600. Additional protection is afforded by the use of edgings such as the edging 42 which aid in preventing the hard edges of the presser lobes from digging into the skin of the wearer.

With the abdominal support of this invention properly positioned as described above the benefits that accrue therefrom must now be appreciated. The presser lobe 11 provides support centrally of the base of the lower abdominal region and is free to flex longitudinally axially so that pressure is maintained on the body in this region. The flexibility of the lobe 11 together with the padding prevents the lobe from digging into the skin of the wearer; however, the benefits accruing from the use of a hard surface pressure applying element are still present. The lobes 12 and 13, with or without hernia pads, can also flex longitudinally axially in response to body movements while they still maintain pressure on the lower abdominal regions which they cover. The lobes further are flexible individually of each other and simultaneous flexing can take place in that flexing of one of the lobes does not hinder flexing the remaining lobes.

The foundation structure can easily be removed from the pouch, and the padding can be removed from the foundation structure for cleaning or replacement of the parts.

In certain embodiments, the rear wall of the pouch is modified to include pronounced padding which replaces or supplements either or both the padding 42 or the hernia pad 44 for the pouch itself thus to supply pad and cover means for the spring presser means of the foundation structure, effectively between the foundation structure and the body of the wearer.

As the invention lends itself to many possible embodiments, and as many possible changes may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore set forth, it will be understood that all matter described herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not as a limitation.

I claim:

1. In a foundation structure adapted for use in a support for an abdominal reg-ion of a wearer, a rigid base member and presser means including first, second and third spring projections securely on said rigid base member, said first spring projection extending longitudinally outwardly away from said rigid base member and said second and third spring projections being oppositely situated with respect to each other and extending longitudinally in generally opposite directions outwardly away from said base member and longitudinally directionally transversely of the longitudinal direction of said first spring projection, and said spring projections each having a free outer end and a rearwardly directed presser face for said spring projection to be in thrust receiving relation to an abdominal region of a wearer of the foundation structure and flex longitudinally when the thrust is varied.

2. In a foundation structure according to claim 1, the feature that each of said projections includes a lobe having spring properties and said rearwardly directed presser face of the projection is a rearwardly directed face of the lobe and said free outer end of the projection is a free outer end of the lobe.

3. In a foundation structure according to claim 1, the feature that said spring project-ions in the absence of forces being applied thereto are inherently longitudinally forwardly bowed between said free outer ends of said spring projections and said rigid base member and said free outer ends of said spring projections occupy positions rearwardly of said rigid base member with said presser faces facing toward the rear.

4. In a foundation structure according to claim 3, the feature that each of said projections includes a lobe having spring properties, said rearwardly directed presser face of the projection is a rearwardly directed face of the lobe, and said free outer end of the projection is a free outer end of the lobe.

5. In a foundation structure according to claim 1, the feature that each of said projections includes a spring sheet member having said outer end of the spring projection and said rearwardly directed presser face of the spring projection, and a sheet piece includes said second and third spring sheet members integrally.

6. In a foundation structure according to claim 5, the feature that said rigid base member and inner portions of said spring sheet members have a generally T-shaped pattern of interconnection.

7. In a foundation structure according to claim 6, the feature that said spring sheet members in the absence of forces being applied thereto are inherently longitudinally forwardly bowed between said free outer ends and said inner portions thereof and said outer ends occupy positions rearwardly of said rigid base member.

8. In a foundation structure according to claim 1, the feature that said foundation structure further includes pad means securely on said presser means and covering said presser faces of said spring projections.

9. In a support for an abdominal region of a wearer, a foundation structure comprising, a rigid base member and presser means including first, second and third spring projections securely on said rigid base member, said first spring project-ion extending longitudinally outwardly away from said rigid base and said second and third spring projections being oppositely situated with respect to each other and extending longitudinally in generally opposite directions outwardly away from said base member and longitudinally directionally transversely of the longitudinal direction of said first spring projection, and said spring projections each having a free outer end and a rearwardly directed presser face for said spring projection to be in thrust receiving relation to an abdominal region of a wearer of the support and flex longitudinally when the thrust is varied, and pad means securely on said presser means and covering at least one of said presser faces, and -a pouch receiving said foundation structure.

10. In a support according to claim 9, the feature that said support includes a harness engaged with said pouch, and said harness comprises an arrangement for securing said pouch to the body of a wearer and maintaining said presser faces in thrust receiving relation to an abdominal region of the wearer.

11. In a support according to claim 9, the feature that said foundation structure and forward and rearward walls of said pouch have apertures therein, and said pouch and said foundation structure are laced together through said apertures.

12. In a support according to claim 9, the feature that 8 said pad means and said spring projection having said presser face thereof covered by said pad means are characterized by said spring projection having a plurality of apertures therein, and the support including strand means securing said pad means and spring projection together through said apertures.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,554,888 9/1925 Smith 128-96 2,022,474 11/1935 Miller 128--1 12 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A FOUNDATION STRUCTURE ADAPTED FOR USE IN A SUPPORT FOR AN ABDOMINAL REGION OF A WEARER, A RIGID BASE MEMBER AND PRESSER MEANS INCLUDING FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD SPRING PROJECTIONS SECURELY ON SAID RIGID BASE MEMBER, SAID FIRST SPRING PROJECTION EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID RIGID BASE MEMBER AND SAID SECOND AND THIRD SPRING PROJECTIONS BEING OPPOSITELY SITUATED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY IN GENERALLY OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID BASE MEMBER AND LONGITUDINALLY DIRECTIONALLY TRANSVERSELY OF THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID FIRST SPRING PROJECTION, AND SAID SPRING PROJECTIONS EACH HAVING A FREE OUTER END AND A REARWARDLY DIRECTED PRESSER FACE FOR SAID SPRING PROJECTION TO BE IN THRUST RECEIVING RELATION TO AN ABDOMINAL REGION OF A WEARER OF THE FOUNDATION STRUCTURE AND FLEX LONGITUDINALLY WHEN THE THRUST IS VARIED. 